San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31), of Finland, is congratulated by teammates after defeating the Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 in an overtime shootout during an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 24, 2012.

Photo: Paul Sakuma, Associated Press

San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31), of Finland, is...

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Goaltender Antti Niemi #31 of the San Jose Sharks watches the puck go in the net for a goal off the stick of Daymond Langkow #22 of the Phoenix Coyotes at HP Pavilion at San Jose on March 24, 2012 in San Jose, California.

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

Goaltender Antti Niemi #31 of the San Jose Sharks watches the puck...

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Ryane Clowe #29 of the San Jose Sharks collides with Michal Rozsival #32 of the Poenix Coyotes at HP Pavilion at San Jose on March 24, 2012 in San Jose, California.

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

Ryane Clowe #29 of the San Jose Sharks collides with Michal...

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San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) is unable to score past Phoenix Coyotes' Mike Smith (41) in the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 24, 2012.

Photo: Paul Sakuma, Associated Press

San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) is unable to score past...

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Phoenix Coyotes left wing Ray Whitney (13) is unable to score past San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31), of Finland, during a shootout in overtime in an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 24, 2012. The Sharks defeated the Coyotes 4-3 in an overtime shootout.

Photo: Paul Sakuma, Associated Press

Phoenix Coyotes left wing Ray Whitney (13) is unable to score past...

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Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks fights battles to keep control of the puck away from Derek Morris #53 of the Phoenix Coyotes at HP Pavilion at San Jose on March 24, 2012 in San Jose, California. The Sharks won the game in a shoot-out 4-3.

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks fights battles to keep...

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Goaltender Mike Smith #41 of the Phoenix Coyotes stops the rebound shot of Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion at San Jose on March 24, 2012 in San Jose, California. The Sharks won the game in a shoot-out 4-3.

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

Goaltender Mike Smith #41 of the Phoenix Coyotes stops the rebound...

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Michal Handzus #26 of the San Jose Sharks scores in a shoot-out getting his shot pass goaltender Mike Smith #41 of the Phoenix Coyotes at HP Pavilion at San Jose on March 24, 2012 in San Jose, California. The Sharks won the game 4-3 in a shoot-out.

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

Michal Handzus #26 of the San Jose Sharks scores in a shoot-out...

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Brent Burns #88 of the San Jose Sharks exchanges punches with Derek Morris #53 of the Phoenix Coyotes at HP Pavilion at San Jose on March 24, 2012 in San Jose, California. The Sharks won the game in a shoot-out 4-3.

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

Brent Burns #88 of the San Jose Sharks exchanges punches with Derek...

In Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over the Coyotes, the Sharks did so many of the little things you can't do during a desperate playoff race. They also did the one thing you have to be able to do, and something we hadn't seen much from them recently: They won an ugly game.

Clowe left after taking a Brent Burns shot to the noggin in the second period but returned for the third and scored a goal that helped seal it in the shootout, as San Jose gained ground in the West playoff race.

The final score - and the final shot total, 32-27 Sharks - didn't do credit to how much San Jose controlled the pace. The Coyotes' 28-10 edge in blocks and five penalties (none of which the Sharks converted) get a bit closer. That's the type of game it was: hard-fought, congested, ugly.

"There were a lot of close battles," Clowe said. "There were guys going down. Sticks - and pucks - to the face. There were bodies flying everywhere. ... It was what you should expect from two teams fighting for position."

Thing is, that's the type of game Phoenix, not San Jose, is built to win. The Coyotes don't have star power - certainly not playing without their captain, Shane Doan (suspension), and their best scorer, Radim Vrbata (lower body injury). But Phoenix knows how to capitalize with goals when it gets a chance - whether it's Daymond Langkow, early in the first period off a turnover deep in the Sharks' zone; Derek Morris, with 0.5 of a second left in the first off a bad bounce on a play that never would have happened had the Sharks swallowed the puck as they should have; or Lauri Korpikowski, catching San Jose napping early in the second.

Against the Coyotes, "any mistake we make ends up in the back of our net," Sharks forward Patrick Marleau said. "They're very opportunistic when it comes to the mistakes the other teams get. They'll play that game, play it patient."

The Sharks have struggled to play that game, as you'd gather from a pair of 3-0 losses to Phoenix this season. That made this win a good sign. The pretty plays - like a great opportunity off the rush by Joe Thornton late in overtime - weren't falling. But Marleau got a goal off a turnover midway through the first; Burns and Daniel Winnik added goals on shots from the high slot that needed eyes to beat Mike Smith; and Michal Handzus, Clowe and goalie Antti Niemi finished in the shootout.

"The work ethic was there tonight. Not the polish," coach Todd McLellan said. "To find a way to get two (points) on those nights is important."

Mess in the West

Six teams are in the mix for the final three playoff spots in the West. Four of those teams (in bold) also are shooting to earn the No. 3 playoff seed by winning the Pacific Division title: